Camellia plant named ‘Curly Lady’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Camellia  plant named ‘Curly Lady’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; spirally twisting lateral branches; freely branching growth habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; and large semi-double red-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Camellia japonica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Curly Lady’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCamellia, botanically known as Camellia japonica, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Curly Lady’.

The new Camellia is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of theCamellia japonica cultivar Lady Campbell, not patented. The new Camelliawas discovered and selected as a branch mutation on a single plant of‘Lady Campbell’ by the Inventor in 1999 in a controlled environment inBeugen, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Camellia by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Beugen, The Netherlands since 1999, has shownthat the unique features of this new Camellia are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Camellia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength and/or light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Curly Lady’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Curly Lady’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Spirally twisting lateral branches.    -   3. Freely branching growth habit.    -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Large semi-double red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Camellia differ primarily from plants of the parent,the cultivar Lady Campbell, in lateral branch orientation as plants ofthe cultivar Lady Campbell have straight, not twisting, lateralbranches.

Plants of the new Camellia can also be compared to plants of theCamellia cultivar TDN 1116, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,213.Plants of the new Camellia differed from plants of the cultivar TDN 1116primarily in lateral branch orientation as plants of the cultivar TDN1116 have straight, not twisting, lateral branches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Camellia. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Camellia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Curly Lady’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Curly Lady’.

The photograph in the middle of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical lateral branch of ‘Curly Lady’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical leaf of ‘Curly Lady’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Camellia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in 7.5-liter containers in Boskoop, TheNetherlands, in an outdoor nursery and under commercial productionpractices. Plants used for the photographs and the description wereabout four years old. The photographs and description were taken duringthe spring with day temperatures ranging from 3 to 20° C. and nighttemperatures ranging from 0 to 10° C. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Camellia japonica ‘Curly Lady’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Camellia    japonica cultivar Lady Campbell, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About two months at            temperatures of about 16° C.        -   Root description.—Moderate thickness, fleshy; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen; upright            and outwardly spreading plant habit; broad inverted            triangle; moderately vigorous.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, about six lateral            branches.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 50 cm.        -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 47 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 29 cm. Diameter at            base: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 3.5 cm. Strength:            Moderately strong to strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Orientation: Spirally twisting. Color: Young: 146A. Mature:            200D to between 199B to 199C.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 9.5 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Apiculate. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Serrate. Orientation:            Undulate; occasionally curled. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Leathery; smooth,            glabrous. Luster, upper surface: Glossy. Luster, lower            surface: Somewhat glossy. Color: Developing foliage, upper            surface: Much darker green than 146A. Developing foliage,            lower surface: 146A. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            Slightly darker than 139A; venation, 143A to 143B. Fully            expanded foliage, lower surface: Between 143A and 146A;            venation, 144A to 144B. Petiole: Length: About 1 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A to            144B to 147A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminals            with usually about eight flowers per plant. Flowers face            upward or outward.        -   Flower appearance.—Semi-double flower form with numerous            petals and petaloids.        -   Natural flowering season.—Late March in The Netherlands.            Flowers not persistent.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers maintain good substance for about            one week.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower diameter.—About 8.3 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3.8 cm.        -   Flower bud (about five days before opening).—Length: About            2.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.2 mm. Shape: Broadly ovoid. Color:            Towards the base, 145A to 145B; towards the apex, 53B.        -   Petals/petaloids.—Arrangement: Semi-double flower form;            numerous whorls of about 72 imbricate petals and petaloids.            Length, largest petals: About 4.1 cm. Width, largest petals:            About 3.8 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to orbicular. Apex:            Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper            surface: 47B; towards the margins, 47C. When opening, lower            surface: 46C; towards the margins, 46D. Fully opened, upper            surface: 46C; towards the margins, 46D; color becoming            closer to 47C to 47D with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: 46C.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of about four sepals.            Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Broadly            oval. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening, upper surface: 145C to 145D; towards the base, 50C.            When opening, lower surface: 145B to 145C; towards the base,            50C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: 145B to 145C;            towards the base, 51C to 51D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Angle:            Mostly horizontal. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 150B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per            flower: Two to 26. Filament length: About 1.5 cm. Anther            length: About 3 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: 22C.            Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium:            Quantity of pistils per flower: Three. Pistil length: About            1.9 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: 62D. Stigma            shape: Obtuse. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma            color: 150D. Ovary color: 37C to 37D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Camellia have been    observed to be very tolerant to rain and wind. Plants of the new    Camellia have been observed to tolerate temperatures from −10 to 35°    C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Camellia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Camellias.

1. A new and distinct Camellia plant named ‘Curly Lady’, as illustrated and described. 